Metallic shelving



March 16 P. s. MEDART ET AL METALLIC SHELVING Filed Sept. 15, 1924 4Sheets-Sheet 1 March 16 1926. 1,577,066

P. s. MEDART ET AL METALLIC SHELVING Filed Sept 15, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet2 P. S. MEDART ET AL March 16 METALLIC SHELVING Filed Sept. 15 1924 4Sheets-Sheet 5 rLl March 16 1926. 1,577,066 P. s. MEDART ET AL METALLICSHELVING Filed Sept. 15, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 limmmmmm 36 ia I 17 7Patented Mar. 16, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT 0FFIE.

PHILIP S. MEDAR'I. AND FRANK ALBACH, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNORS'10 FRED MEDART MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A COR-PORATION OF MISSOURI.

METALLIC SHELVING.

Application filed September 15, 1924.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, PHILIP S. MEDART and FRANK ALBACH, citizens of theUnited States of America, and residents of the city of St. Louis, Stateof Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inMetallic Shelving, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to store and like shelving of the sectionalmetallic type, and has for its various objects To provide a structuralformation and combination of shelving parts, wherein a skeleton shelvingunit comprising a series of corner posts, top and bottom shelves andseries of supporting legs are detachably connected together in a readyand substantial manner, as a unitary structure adapted for readycombination with other similar units, and for the addition ofsupplementary shelves, bins, book stops and similar accessories, inaccordance with the varying requirements arising from the different usesto which the shelving is applied, and with which with a minimum amountof material a maximum degree of strength and rigidity in the structureis attained.

To provide a simple and effective formation and combination of partswhereby in termediate shelves are connected and supported in avertically adjustable manner in a skeleton shelving unit of the presenttype.

To provide a structural formation of the corner post of a shelving unitinvolving lightness, strength and adaptability for the attachment ofintermediate shelves and other usual accessories.

To provide a structural formation and combination of bin parts forassemblage with a shelf of the present type of shelving units, to afforda series of cells or compartments capable of being varied in relation toeach other in size or capacity to meet ordinary requirements in actualuse.

To provide a simple and effective arrangement of parts wherein a stoprail for books and like articles is connected in adjustable manner inhorizontal and vertical planes above an adjacent shelf, all as willhereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1, is a perspective view of a shelvingunit formed in accordance with the present invention.

Serial No. 737,749.

Fig. 2, is a detail perspective view of adacent portions of a cornerpost, shelf and the adjustable bracket support between the parts.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the shelf supporting bracket in adetached condition.

Fig. 4, is a detail section on line 4-4, Fig. 5, showing the supportingbracket and associated parts of the shelving unit in assembled relation.

Fig. 5, is a horizontal section of same on line 55, Fig. 4.

Fig. 6, is a detail perspective view of a post member of a shelvingunit.

F igs. 7 and 8, are similar views of the upper and lower clip member forsaid post member.

Fig. 9, is a similar View of a leg member of the shelving unit.

Fig. 10, is a detail perspective view of an upper corner portion of theshelving unit.

F g. 11, is a similar view of a lower corner port on of said unit.

Fig. 12, is a detail sectional perspective view of a corner portion ofthe top shelf of the unit.

Fig. 13, is a similar view of the lower shelf of the unit.

Fig. 14, is an enlarged detail section of the shelving unit on line1414, Fig. 15.

Fig. 15, is a detail horizontal section on line 15-l5, Fig. 14.

Fig. 16, is a similar view on line l616, Fig. 14.

F 17, is a detail horizontal section il1us trating the assembly of aseries of shelving units in proper and fixed relation.

Fig. 18, is a detail perspective view of a stop rail for books, etc, andits connection with the shelving unit.

Fig. 19, is a detail section of same on line 1919, Fig. 18.

Fig. 20, is a detail perspective view of the sectional bin structure ofthe invention.

Fig. 21, is a vertical section of the same on line 2121, Fig. 22.

Fig. 22, is a similar View of same on line 22-22, Fig. 21.

Like reference numerals parts in the different views.

As illustrated in the drawings, the unit or series of units comprising ametallic store shelving of the required capacity, will each consist in aprimary form of a series of four indicate like corner posts 1, to whichare bolted or otherwise fixedly secured top and bottom shelves 2 and 3,and a series of four similarl; at tached supporting legs it, with saidmembers having a structural formation as follows:

Each corner post 1 is forn'ied of plate metal, a blank of which of therequired size, is folded upon itself to form a tubular main body,rectangular in cross section, having lateral flanges or webs whichextend along the seam of said post body to afford a convenient means forrigidly connecting the post body parts together by spot welds or otherusual attaching means. Said flanges or webs also serve as positioningabutments for the ends of the respective shelves of the structure. whilea series of elongated orifices (.5 formed in verticallv spaced relationin the a'li'oresaid tubular post body and in a face of the same adjacentto flanges 5, are adapted to receive the hereinafter describedadjustable supporting brackets for the intermediate shelves and otheraccessories of the shelving unit.

At the respective upper and lower ends of a post l, the tubular bodyformat ion above described. is omitted for a distance corresponding withthe height of a shelf. and at such ends the plate metal of the post hasa right angle form with the respective webs 7, 7, formed with bolt holesor orifices 8, *l, for the passage of the hereinafter describedfastening bolts.

In the present construction, reinforcing angle clips or gussets 9 areassociated with the above described upper and lower end formations ofthe post, with the clips arranged on the inside of the post ends, witheach angle flange of a clip having a greater length than that of thecompanion flange or web 7 of the post end and with the outer andoverlapping portion of each of said clip flanges provided with a bolthole 10,

supplementary to a bolt hole 10 which has aligned relation. to a bolthole ft of the post end. as illustrated in T. 8, 10, 11. 1:) and 16. Inaddition the clips or gussets f) are forn'ied with supplementaryextensions or webs 11 of a right angle form which extend into theinterior of the tubular post body and are fixedly attached therein byspot welds 12. or like attaching means, see Figs. 10 and 11.

The supporting feet 1 of the shelving unit are formed of plate metal andare attached to the lower ends of the posts 1. In the presentconstruction each foot is of a right angle formation with respectiveupper and lower portions 13 and 1dotl'set with relation one to the otherto provide a resting ledge 15 for the lower end of a post 1, with theinset upper portions 13 formed with bolt holes 16, complementary to theabove described bolt holes of the post end and reinforcing clips andlike bolt holes of the top and bottom shelves now to be described.

The top and bottom shelves 2 and 3 above referred to, are of asubstantially counter iart formation and each shelf comprises a mainplate metal shelf body the margins of which are dowuturncd to providereinforcing flanges 17, which in turn are rebent at their lower edges toprovide upturned lips 18, :lorming holding channels for a reinforcingbar it) of metal, preferably of the ap n'oximately U form shown. withthe reinforcing bar 19 and flanges 17 formed with belt holescomplementary to the bolt holes of the post, clip and feet abovedescribed.

ll ith the above described detail construetion, the posts 1.. top andbottom shelves 2, 2'5, clip 9 and feet 1 ll, are secured together byscrew bolts 2t), or like fastening means. passing through the series ofbolt holes above deseribedfas shown more particularlv in Figs. .15 and1G, to constitute an individual shelving unit. Wherras series of suchunits are required to be secured together to provide increased tapacity,the adjacent corners of the plurality of such units will be securedtogether bolts 20 passing through the heretoiliore described bolt holesat the respective top and bottom portions of the units as illustrated ini ig. 1'7.

lhe series of intermediate shelves 21 are preferably of the same detailconstruction as the top and bottom shelves 2 and 3, before described,exceptv as to the provision of bolt holes, and such intermediate shelvesare adjustably supported within a shelving unit by supporting means asfollows Supporting brackets :52 of plate metal are formed at one edgewith book shaped projections or prongs 21? in spaced relationcorresprmding with the spaced relation of the vertical rows of elongatedorifices (S in the posts 1. with such prongs adapted to enter a pair ofsaid oritices (3, and have interlocking engagement with the lower end ofsaid orifices, as illustrated more partienlarlv in Figs. 1 ant At itsupper end and in otl'set relation to the prongs 2*, the supportingbracket is provided with an HPSbtllltling lug 2t adapted. when thebracket is in place, to provide a receiving recess between the lug andthe adjacent side of the post 1. for the reception of and holdingengagement with the downturned rein of a shelf as shown. in addition,the supporting bracket 22, at its edge opposite to the prongs 23, isprovided with a flange 25 for convenient manual handling in an assemblyor If adjustment of the parts.

Another part of the present improvement embraces the combination withthe posts 1. and the vertical series of orifices 6 therein, of a stoprail 26 for books, etc., arranged intermediate the width of and heightbetween the shelves, and extending the length of such shelves. In this apair of bridge bars 27, having notches 28 near their respective endshave interlocking engagement in orifices 6 of opposed pairs of posts 1,to afford a supporting means for the stop rail 26 aforesaid, and whichrail, in the present construction, is formed of structural metal of thechannel shape, the opposed flanges of which are formed with notches 29near the respective ends of the rail, for engagement with the upperedges of the bridge bars 27 and are secured thereon by Z shaped clips30, and tightening bolts 31, as illustrated in Figs. 18 and 19.

Still another part of the present improvement embraces the combinationwith the sectional unit and a shelf thereof, of a sectional binformation as follows A pair of end walls 32 of plate metal, each formedwith a rolled top edge, with a bottom flange 33 to rest upon the topsurface of a shelf, and with orificed end flanges for attachment to thefront and rear walls of the bin structure with such walls formed asfollows The front and rear walls 35 and 36 above referred to, are formedof sections of plate metal, each section being formed with a rolled topedge, and with a lower return bend 37 so formed as to engage beneath theheretofore described downturned flange 17 of a shelf, and in additioneach section is provided with bolt holes registering with the aforesaidbolt holes of the end walls or sections, for the passage of a series ofattaching bolts 38, by which the series of wall sections are attachedtogether and in assembled relation with a shelf of the structure.

To the opposed faces of the aforesaid front and rear walls 35, 36, apair of positioning plates 39 are secured, each provided with a seriesof vertical slots or grooves 40 for the reception of a series ofpartition plates 41, by which the interior of the bin structure may bedivided to provide a series of chambers of the desired size. In thepresent construction the positioning plates 39 are formed of platemetal, each having 'an offset flange 42 at top which is continuons thelength of the plate, while the main body and the intermediate webconnecting said body with the flange 42, are formed with the series ofpartition receiving slots 40, as shown in Figs. 20, 21 and 22.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. A post for shelving units formed of a plate metal blank bent into atubular body portion, rectangular in crosssection, provided with lateralcontacting webs along the seam of the body portion, and with orificedright angle plate portions at one end for fixed attachment to a shelf ofthe unit, each right angle plate portion having aligned relation to aweb of the tubular body portion, and a clip member of a right angleplate metalfornration fitting the interior of the post, end and havingan extension of like right angle formation extending into and secured inthe interiorof the body portion.

2. A post for shelving units formed of a plate metal blank bent into atubular body portion, rectangular in cross section, provided withlateral contacting webs along the seam of the body portion, and withorificed right angle plate portions at one end for fixed attachment to ashelf of the unit, each right angle plate portion having alignedrelation to a web of the tubular body portion, and a clip member of aright angle plate metal formation fitting the interior of the post endand having an extension of like right angle formation extending into andsecured in the interior of the body portion, the respective flanges ofthe clip member extending beyond the angular end portions of the postand provided with bolt orifices in the extended portions.

3. A post for shelving units formed of a plate metal blank bent into atubular body portion, rectangular in cross-section, provided withlateral contacting webs along theseam of the body portion, and withorificed right angle plate portions at one end for fixed attachment to ashelf of the unit, and a plate metal supporting leg of a right angleshape and comprising upper and lower portions in offset relation toprovide a rest for the lower end of the post and its accessories.

4. A post for shelving units formed of a plate metal blank bent into atubular body portion, rectangular in cross section provided with lateralcontacting webs along the seam of the body portion, and with orificedright angle plate portions at one end for fixed attachment to a shelf ofthe unit, a clip member of a right angle plate metal formation fittingthe interior of the post end and having an extension of like right angleformation extending into and secured in the interior of said bodyportion, and a plate metal supporting leg of a right angle shape andcomprising upper and lower portions in offset relation to provide a restfor the lower ends of the aforesaid post and clip member.

A post for shelving units formed of a plate metal blank bent into atubular body portion, rectangular in cross section, provided withlateral contacting Webs along the seam of the body portion, and withorificed right angle plate portions at one end for fixed attachment to ashelf of the unit, a clip member of a right angle plate metal formationfitting the interior of the post end and having an extension of likeright angle formation extending into and secured in the member, therespective [lan res ot' the clip men 7' extending: berornl the annularend portions ol' the post and provided with belt orifice-4 in the aidedportii'ms.

ii. i a sled; j nail, the eoinbiinition of a plurality ot end posts.each termed with a tubular body portion prm'ided with a rerti ail seriesoi eiox'inated oritices, a shelii harion" a den: nrned margin and meansfor arljnt-tably alta non the shell to the posts, the some com r singmetal brael-tct member lr.irio; a pair i books on one edge and anupstanding lira? at another edge in otlset relation to said hooks andadapted to engage the itnder margin ot the shell, said hooks having: enaeemeni with a pair ot' the Vertical oriliies in a post.

T. lo a sheirinn unit, the combination ot a plurality oi end pods, eachformed with a tubular laid portion prorided with a rel; tirai series ol'elongnitei'l orilires, a shelf having a dinrotnrned margin and means foradjustabl attaching: the shelt to the posts, the same comprising a platemetal bracket member having}; a pair of hooks on one edge, a lateral logon an edge opposite to the edge carrying said hooks, and an upstandinglog: at another edgz e in onset relation to said hooks and adapted toengage the nnder mar- ,e'in oil the shell". said hooks having engagementwith a pair of vertical orilires of the post.

8. lo a shili'in r unit. the rombii'iation ot a plurality oi end posts,each 'l'ornied ot a plate metal blank bent into a tubular body portion,rertanejnlar in cross section, and provided with lateral contacting websalong the seam ot the body portion on a plane with the side thereof, ashelt, and means to adjustahly attachiinr the shelt to the post, thesame romprising a plate bracket member having; a pair ot hooks on oneedge and an npstanding inn at another edge in onset relation to saidhooks and adapted to engage the under 1nar;, ;in oi' the shell", saidhooks having engagement with a pair ot the verti- 'ces oi the post.

a shelri11n unit, the combination 01 a plurality of end posts, each haring a tubular body portion provided with a vertiral.

lillilliiiliiillllllillliiilh Wliiilililllllllllltiii llll series o'telongated orifices, a shelf secured in said posts, bridge bars havingnotchesat their respective ends for engagement in opposed pairs Oil? thepost oriiiccs, a stop rail termed with notches at its respective endsfor engnigement with said bridge bars, Z shaped clip members between thebridge bars and stop rail, and fastening bolts between the stop rail andthe clip members.

10. In a shelving unit, the con'ibination of a shell", end bin sectionsOil'i plate motahhaw ing bottom flanges bearing); on thc f ,op surfaceof the shelf, front and rear bin sections of plate metal having intnrncdflanges at their lower ends for engagement beneath the shell", thetront, rear and end bin sections having overlapping flanges, and fastenng means passing through said flanges to war cure said sections inplace, slotted positioning plates secured to the .tront and rear binsections, and partition plates fitting the slots in the positioningplates.

ijl. In a shelving unit, the combination of a shelf, end bin sectionso'l plate metal, hav' ing bottom llane'es bearing on the top sarlace otthe shell, front and rear bin scctioi'is oil? plate metal having;inturned flanges at their lower ends "tor engagemei'it beneath theshelf, the front, rear and end bin sections having overlapping flanges,and fastening means passing through said flanges to secure said sectionsin place, slotted positioning plates secured to the front and rear binsections, and partition plates fitting the slots in the positioningplates, each of said positioning plates consisting 01 a plate of metalprovided with an ollset portion at its upper edge extending the lengthof the plate and with positioning slots formed Wholly in the lowerportion of the plate.

12. In a shelving unit, the combination of a shelf, end bin sections ofplate metal having bottom flanges bearing on the top surface oil theshelf, front and rear bin sections oit plate metal having inturnedflanges at their lower ends for ei'igagemcnt beneath the shell, saidsections having overlapping ends and means passing through theoverlapping parts for securing the bin sections in place.

Signed at Saint Louis, Missouri, this 11th day of September, 19%.

PHILIP S. MEDART. FRANK ALBAOH.

